Chris Nickels Provides Update on OSHA’s Proposed Heat Rule for Industrial Safety & Hygiene News
Chris Nickels, a partner in the Quarles & Brady Labor & Employment Practice Group, was quoted in an Industrial Safety & Hygiene News article about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) proposed heat stress rule that aims to protect workers from hazardous thermal environments. The proposed heat stress rule is undergoing an administrative hearing process, expected to conclude in July, followed by a 90-day period for additional testimony.
Nickels said the most contentious aspects of the rule are likely to be administrative elements, such as assigning dedicated staff for temperature monitoring and record-keeping, and the acclimation requirement. He also mentioned that providing water and training are not seen as major issues, but the most significant challenge will be related to outdoor and transient agricultural workers and manufacturers with unrecognized indoor heat hazards.
An excerpt:
As the public comment period for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) proposed heat stress rule concludes, businesses are seeking clarity on its potential impact. To shed light on this significant development, I spoke with Chris Nickels, a partner at Quarles & Brady, specializing in OSHA regulations.
OSHA's proposed heat stress rule is currently undergoing an administrative hearing process, expected to conclude in July, followed by a 90-day period for additional testimony. We have an article in this issue (link to Veriforce article in eMag) that explains the proposed rule and what it could mean. The earliest implementation for a finalized rule is anticipated in Q2 2026.
Nickels said the most contentious aspects of the rule are likely to be administrative elements, such as assigning dedicated staff for temperature monitoring and record-keeping, and the acclimation requirement, which could lead to non-productive work time. While providing water and training are not seen as major issues, outdoor and transient agricultural workers, as well as manufacturers with unrecognized indoor heat hazards, are expected to face the most significant challenges, he said.
Nickels also said that a common employer oversight is underestimating how hot environments, especially indoors or in trailers, can become.